Best books of 2019!

I usually do a post where I share all the books I read the previous year in January. But this year, I’m just gonna tell you about the best of the bunch. This list is not about the best books that were published in 2019, but my top five personal favourites out of the 24 books I read in 2019. My goal was to read 30 books but well, meh.

Let’s jump right in.

Honorable mention :

Doyle’s final novel featuring the beloved sleuth, Sherlock Holmes, brings the detective and his friend to a country manor where they are preceded by either a murder or a suicide. A secretive organization lies culprit and an infiltration of it is in order.

My thoughts : I read all the four Holmes novels and a lot of his stories for the first time last year. But even as a kid, I loved the character Holmes. I just found his stories a bit tough to read. Sherlock, the series further made me love the character even more.

The Valley of Fear is one of those four full fledged Holmes novels. It’s divided into two parts, one is a typically good mystery involving the detective and his trusty sidekick. The second half involves seemingly new characters and bored me a bit initially.

But the way, those two stories tied together was extremely satisfying. I read this book in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Recommended for those who enjoy a good murder mystery. If you’re not someone who usually reads thrillers or mysteries, I would still recommend this. Sherlock Holmes is too big a phenomenon to miss out on and it’s great to look back on the original source material once in a while.

You won’t like it if you don’t particularly enjoy detective stories. If you can’t stand the suspense or just aren’t fond of the genre. Also, depending on your age, you might find Doyle’s writing style a bit odd if you’re used to the newer authors. But that’s rarely the case.

One Word : Intriguing

5. The Mystery of the Flaming Footprints

When an eccentric local artist disappears suddenly, the three investigators look into the matter.

My thoughts : This is one series I used to LOVE when I was younger. So I decided to reread this one when I came home for the winter break. Some parts feel less thrilling now compared to back when I read it as a kid. But for the most part, this story holds up really well. The plot is a bit of slow burn initially, but the way it all wraps up in the end is mind blowing! Or was, when I read it for the first time as a kid.

Part of the reason why I love this story is because of the actual book itself. The edition I have is pretty rare to find and it used to belong to my Aunt who then gave it to my Dad. My Dad then passed it down to his younger sister and then I got it somehow.

So, my edition is more than 40 years old. The pages are yellowed out and the binding is fragile. This also contributes to one of the reasons why I love this story. But primarily, I love how nostalgic this book makes me feel. I can’t really explain why, but re-reading this book made me feel really happy somehow.

Recommended for those who used to love reading or still read books like The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Famous Five etc. If you’ve read The Three Investigators before, there is now way you should pass up on this. If it’s your first outing with the trio I would recommend reading some of the original books first. That way you’ll be able to enjoy this one even more!

You won’t like it if you’re not into any of those book series I mentioned before. Or if you’re not in the mood to read detective stories or books meant for kids/teens. It’s also extremely hard to find a physical copy of this book, here in India. There’s always ebooks though.

One Word : Nostalgic

4. The Turn of the Key

When she stumbles across the ad, she’s looking for something else completely. But it seems like too good an opportunity to miss—a live-in nannying post, with a staggeringly generous salary. And when Rowan Caine arrives at Heatherbrae House, she is smitten—by the luxurious “smart” home fitted out with all modern conveniences, by the beautiful Scottish Highlands, and by this picture-perfect family.

What she doesn’t know is that she’s stepping into a nightmare—one that will end with a child dead and herself in prison awaiting trial for murder.

Writing to her lawyer from prison, she struggles to explain the unravelling events that led to her incarceration. It wasn’t just the constant surveillance from the cameras installed around the house, or the malfunctioning technology that woke the household with booming music, or turned the lights off at the worst possible time. It wasn’t just the girls, who turned out to be a far cry from the immaculately behaved model children she met at her interview. It wasn’t even the way she was left alone for weeks at a time, with no adults around apart from the enigmatic handyman, Jack Grant.

It was everything.

She knows she’s made mistakes. She admits that she lied to obtain the post, and that her behavior toward the children wasn’t always ideal. She’s not innocent, by any means. But, she maintains, she’s not guilty—at least not of murder. Which means someone else is.

Full of spellbinding menace and told in Ruth Ware’s signature suspenseful style, The Turn of the Key is an unputdownable thriller from the Agatha Christie of our time.

My thoughts : Another thriller on the list. It’s my favourite genre and this is definitely one of my favourite books of all time in this genre. The whole atmosphere, the heavy buildup and the shocking ending are the highlights which make it impossible to put down.

This is as good as airplane books get. I finished most of it on a train ride back home and I had to delay my dinner just because I didn’t want to stop reading!

Really, what more can I say. I even wrote a whole post on this book.

Recommended for those who read books like The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl, Lasting Damage or similar pyschological thrillers. Even if you don’t read such books, this is a good place to start the genre. The story is simple enough that most people who’ve ever had any experience with minding children will relate to it.

You won’t like it if you don’t like reading slow burn psychological thrillers. The story takes a while to get you fully invested, so that might put you off if you want something exciting from the start.

One Word : Page-turner.

3. The Shining

Jack Torrance’s new job at the Overlook Hotel is the perfect chance for a fresh start. As the off-season caretaker at the atmospheric old hotel, he’ll have plenty of time to spend reconnecting with his family and working on his writing. But as the harsh winter weather sets in, the idyllic location feels ever more remote…and more sinister. And the only one to notice the strange and terrible forces gathering around the Overlook is Danny Torrance, a uniquely gifted five-year-old.

My thoughts : My first Stephen King book. I wanted to try out new authors last year and King was on my list. I started with The Shining and what pleases me a lot is how it’s much more detailed and character-oriented than the film.

You really feel for Jack, the protagonist and it’s almost like reading a tragedy because you know what’s gonna happen later on. Danny is amazing as well. I legit could not stop reading this book. King writes in such great detail and makes you go through everything the characters are experiencing.

And I’ve got to talk about The Overlook itself, because that place was so atmospheric and descriptive. Honestly, I just have praises for this book and I was kind of sad when it ended because of how much I enjoyed reading it.

Recommended for those who’re looking for a creepy yet emotional read. One that’s more focused on the characters than the story itself. The language is simple enough and if you’re looking for a reason to start reading King, look no further.

You won’t like it if you worship the film because the book is a bit different. I find the book to be better but it’s not as focused on actual horror like the film was. This is more about the characters and the environment because of which some might find it slow and boring.

One Word : Creepy

2. And the Mountains Echoed

So, then. You want a story and I will tell you one.

Afghanistan, 1952. Abdullah and his sister Pari live with their father and stepmother in the small village of Shadbagh. Their father, Saboor, is constantly in search of work and they struggle together through poverty and brutal winters.

To Abdullah, Pari – as beautiful and sweet-natured as the fairy for which she was named – is everything. More like a parent than a brother, Abdullah will do anything for her, even trading his only pair of shoes for a feather for her treasured collection. Each night they sleep together in their cot, their heads touching, their limbs tangled.

One day the siblings journey across the desert to Kabul with their father. Pari and Abdullah have no sense of the fate that awaits them there, for the event which unfolds will tear their lives apart; sometimes a finger must be cut to save the hand.

Crossing generations and continents, moving from Kabul, to Paris, to San Francisco, to the Greek island of Tinos, with profound wisdom, depth, insight and compassion, Khaled Hosseini writes about the bonds that define us and shape our lives, the ways in which we help our loved ones in need, how the choices we make resonate through history and how we are often surprised by the people closest to us.

My thoughts : Khaled Hosseini is one of my favourite authors of all time. His book, A Thousand Splendid Suns was the only book that ever made me cry. Until I read this one. This made me cry even more.

Looking back now, And the Mountains Echoed feels like a collecting of short stories which at first seem, disconnected but branch in together wonderfully at the end. Every chapter is told from a new person’s point of view which feels like a chore to start reading.

But once you’ve finished it, it has had such an emotional impact on you. And the ending is so heartbreaking, it’s impossible not to cry. If there’s one book you read out of this list, make it be this one.

Recommended for those who’re looking for a good cry or enjoy contemporary tales. If you’re into anthologies, this might be something you want to look into. Even if you aren’t interested in this book, there’s no way you’ll be disappointed by it in the end. You’ve got to read this.

You won’t like it if you’re expecting an extremely fast paced book or something full of suspense or dynamic set pieces. I’ve heard people say Hosseini’s other two books were better and this one was a bit underwhelming, but I don’t agree to this.

One Word : Heartbreaking

1. Revenge of the Sith

The turning point for the entire Star Wars saga is at hand

After years of civil war, the Separatists have battered the already faltering Republic nearly to the point of collapse. On Coruscant, the Senate watches anxiously as Supreme Chancellor Palpatine aggressively strips away more and more constitutional liberties in the name of safeguarding the Republic. Yoda, Mace Windu, and their fellow Masters grapple with the Chancellor’ s disturbing move to assume control of the Jedi Council. And Anakin Skywalker, the prophesied Chosen One, destined to bring balance to the Force, is increasingly consumed by his fear that his secret love, Senator Padmé Amidala, will die.

As the combat escalates across the galaxy, the stage is set for an explosive endgame: Obi-Wan undertakes a perilous mission to destroy the dreaded Separatist military leader General Grievous. Palpatine, eager to secure even greater control, subtly influences public opinion to turn against the Jedi. And a conflicted Anakin–tormented by unspeakable visions– edges dangerously closer to the brink of a galaxy-shaping decision. It remains only for Darth Sidious, whose shadow looms ever larger, to strike the final staggering blow against the Republic . . . and to ordain a fearsome new Sith Lord: Darth Vader.

Based on the screenplay of the eagerly anticipated final film in George Lucas’s epic saga, bestselling Star Wars author Matthew Stover’s novel crackles with action, captures the iconic characters in all their complexity, and brings a space opera masterpiece full circle in stunning style.

My thoughts : This is the one, people. The book I loved reading the most in 2019. Why is this one above all the others I read ? I’ll try my best to explain.

Revenge of the Sith had the best story out of all the Star Wars films. Yet Empire and A New Hope are much better films overall. That is because of the shitty dialogue, some of the acting, Anakin’s instantaneous change of character and the overuse of CGI in ROTS.

All of these complaints are non-existent with the book and it somehow manages to add a lot of things as well. Stover’s writing is full of prose and the way he pens it all down, makes you feel as if you’re reading a Greek tragedy. It is a tragedy after all. The characters are more fleshed out because Stover actually tells us what is going on in their minds. And he even gives us proper explanations of why some of the things happened the way they did. And he does of all that, in such amazing poetic style.

This book, had it all for me. Drama, Emotion, Action, everything. I was super addicted to it. And I’m probably gonna be reading it a lot of times in the future.

Recommended for the Star Wars fans! If you’ve seen Star Wars, you have GOT TO READ THIS BOOK! I cannot emphasize enough on how much you would love it!

You won’t like it if you aren’t a Star Wars fan or haven’t seen all the films. Though I’ve read a lot of reviews on Goodreads from people who hadn’t seen the films yet absolutely loved reading this book, so it’s your call there.

One word : Epic.

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Wow, this post turned out to be much longer than I had expected! If you’ve read it all the way till here, thank you so much! Lemme know your thoughts on those books I talked about. Also, what are your favourite books you read last year ?